230 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 13, 1883. 
as cuttings, and treated as such in a good bottom heat such as a 
dung bed affords, soon make good plants, as indeed will bits of the 
stems with a leaf attached. The old plants will, if cut to near the 
pot, spring and form good plants. 
Ficus repens. —A very neat little plant, and very valuable for 
covering the backs or ends of greenhouses. To save trouble it 
should be planted out beside any bare wall, which it will cover with 
its miniature Ivy-like growths. It needs no training nor securing. 
Wherever there is an unsightly damp wall inside a greenhouse this 
plant should be employed, and it will cover it in a short time with 
an ornamental coat of green. 
Latania borbonica. —One of the noblest Palms we have, and 
it will grow and thrive in a greenhouse, although not so well as in 
the stove.. Fibry loam, fibry peat, and some charcoal mixed together 
will suit it. Overpotting should be avoided. Occasional sponging 
may be necessary to keep down insects. 
Phcenix dactylifera. —The Date Palm is well worth growing 
as a greenhouse ornament. Those who have patience may raise it 
irom ordinary Date stones ; these should be sown in a good heat in 
spring, when they will soon start into growth. Stove heat will 
forward them on into good plants more rapidly than will the heat 
of a greenhouse, but even in the greenhouse they will soon form 
handsome plants. Plants of all sizes can be procured from most 
nurserymen. Ordinary soil and ordinary greenhouse treatment will 
suit it admirably. P. reclinata is similar, and will thrive under the 
same treatment. 
Phormium. —The New Zealand Flax plants are noble-looking, 
soon making fine specimens in any ordinary greenhouse. If they 
have a fault at all it is that they soon become unduly large for 
small greenhouses. Phormium tenax is the commonest, but, unless 
where there is plenty of room, only the variegated form should 
be grown. P. Colensoi variegatum is also very handsome and 
finer than P. tenax. P. atro-purpureum and P. Veitchii are also 
worth growing where room exists for their accommodation. Good 
loam, and sharp gritty sand to keep it open, is all they need 
in the way of soil. Sponging may be necessary to destroy 
white scale, which is often rather troublesome. In dry summers 
red spider is apt to attack them, but syringing will keep it down 
or dispose of it. A moderate supply of water is necessary at all 
seasons. 
Seaforthia elegans. —This grand Palm is not very well adapted 
for small greenhouses, but where a few feet of head room can be 
given a nobler plant cannot be had for the centre. It thrives in 
an ordinary greenhouse, and is very easily cultivated. Fibry loam 
and fibry peat in equal parts, with sharp sand, fits it admirably. 
Ihrinax elegans. —An elegant Palm, which thrives in a green¬ 
house, aad does not take up so much room as many of the others 
of the order. Loam and peat and a little sharp sand, with good 
drainage and ordinary greenhouse treatment, suit it well. Scale 
is apt to attack it, but can be removed with a sponge and soapy 
water. * 
Yuccas. —These are well worth growing by the amateur, because 
they are ornamental, at all times of the year. Those named may 
either be grown inside or outside during summer, and of course 
inside during winter. Open gritty soil—say loam and peat, half and 
half, and broken sandstone a sixth of the whole—will suit them.— 
A Gardener. 
THE EOYAL POTTERY, WESTON-SUPER-MARE. 
Being recently at Weston-super-Mare I availed myself of the oppor¬ 
tunity of visiting this far-famed pottery, and, though anticipating 
something of the sort, was yet surprised at the extent and completeness 
of the manufactory now for years earned on by Mr. John Matthews. 
There are few horticulturists who have not heard of this pottery, hut all 
ai'e not aware of the extent of the trade there conducted. Immense 
quantities of pots, vases, &c., are packed almost daily and sent in all 
directions. This will he better understood when it is stated that within 
three weeks of the time of my visit nineteen large cratefuls were sent to 
Australia, thirty-seven to the West Indies, and ten to New Zealand. The 
foreign trade appears to be increasing rapidly, hut this does not interfere 
with the work of meeting the large demands of noblemen’s and gentle¬ 
men’s establishments, parks, and nurserymen. In spite of the frequent 
heavy distributions there were yet to be seen immense heaps of pots of all 
sizes, ranging from If inch to 30 inches in diameter, and many more are 
being made and burnt. 
The whole process of making and burning the pots, as explained to 
me, was most interesting. The clay, of which Mr. Matthews has an 
ample supply, is generally dug in the winter, exposed to atmospheric 
changes, and is subsequently tempered and ground by powerful machinery. 
It is then passed forward to the “ throwing ” shops, where the “ potters ” 
mould to the required sizes. The pots are then carried to the drying 
sheds, these being contiguous to burning kilns, which are thus doubly 
utilised. When sufficiently dry they are “ nested’’—that is to say, the 
small are put in the larger pots and turned upside down to burn, so that 
each pot stands separate, and yet all the space is utilised. In addition, 
“ bunches ” or piles of smaller pots are placed between the larger ones. 
The closer the pots are packed the better the kiln holds the fire. Besides 
the ordinary plain pots there are several specialities largely manufactured,, 
such as Orchid pots, Alpine plant pots, “ Long Toms ” in great demand 
among nurserymen, the Oxford pot for specimen plants, insect and snaik 
guards, bulb pots, Rhubarb and Seakale pots, pans for propagating, pans 
and baskets for Orchids, Strawberry tiles, border tiles, and other useful, 
and ornamental articles. 
For years the Royal Pottery has been justly noted for the beauty of 
the various and innumerable works of art which it has produced in terra¬ 
cotta. These comprise a wonderful variety of figures, fountains, vases,, 
pedestals, garden seats, flower and Fern stands, window boxes, rustic pots,, 
stands, and vases. Many of the new designs are of great merit, are 
perfectly executed, and quite distinct from anything of the sort previously 
attempted; while the old classical designs are and always will be in 
great demand, and therefore largely manufactured. Being informed that 
an elaborate book of designs is to be issued shortly, I shall make no. 
attempt to further describe the new and beautiful specimens I saw at 
Weston-super-Mare.—W. Iggulden. 
GLASGOW AUTUMN SHOW. 
The annual autumn flower Show of the Glasgow and West of Scotland! 
Horticultural Society, which was held in the City Hall, Glasgow, on the 
5th inst., was one of the most successful held for many years. Although, 
nothing was present of extraordinary merit many excellent exhibits were 
staged. Many of the rare plants that used to grace the Glasgow Exhibition, 
are no longer seen, but of ordinary plants very creditable examples continue 
to be shown, and lately in increasing numbers. We note also a great im¬ 
provement both in quantity and quality of the fruit. Vegetables are hardly 
what we are accustomed to in the west of Scotland, but the show of cut 
flowers was never surpassed. 
In addition to the trade collections, which, as usual, fill the greater part, 
of the main hall, from Messrs. Thynne and Smith & Simon, Glasgow ; John., 
Lamont & Son, Musselburgh ; John Craig, Stirling ; Messrs. J. & A. P. Currie- 
showed an attractive stand of garden crockery ; Mr. Thomson of Spring. 
Grove Gardens, Kilbarchan, exhibited a most ornamental Leek, which, if its- 
progeny come equally good, would make a beautiful decorative plants 
Among the more noteworthy exhibits we must class the twenty-four spikes- 
of Gladiolus, with which Mr. A. E. Campbell of Cove Gardens, Gourich,, 
gained the first prize in the class for nurserymen. These were quite equal 
to anything staged in what may be called the palmy days of the Gladiolus, 
which we fear are past in Scotland. The varieties were Abricote, Apollo,, 
Dido, Dumont d’Urville, Elizabeth, Horace Yernet, Ida, Leviathan, L’Unique 
Violet, Million, Mr. Derry, Mrs. Laxton, Murillo, Ninon de l’Enclos, Opale, 
Penelope, Pictura, President, Queen Mary, Rossina, Shakespeare, Tour de 
Mond, and a fine salmon seedling. Judging from Messrs. R. B. Laird and. 
Son’s of Edinburgh first-prize stand of twenty-four Dahlias one would think 
that the day of the decline of the double Dahlia is yet far distant, although 
the new love—the single form, was strong and attracted much attention-. 
The varieties were similar to those exhibited so often in the south and 
repeatedly named in the Journal. Mr. Sutherland of Lenzie gained first 
honours for twelve table plants, rather small but very neat and clean. The 
twelve were Pandanus Veitchii; Dracaenas nigro-rubra, Goldieana,ignea, andi 
gracilis ; Crotons undulatum and Chelsoni, Aralias Veitchii and leptophylla ; 
Palms Cocos Weddelliana, Geonoma gracilis, and Calamus ciliana. A 
beautiful and extensive lot were staged in the gardeners’ division, the first 
being gained by Mr. J. Mitchell, The Gardens. Newmains. For four exotic- 
Ferns Mr. Thos. Hogg, Aitkenhead, Cathcart, easily took first with four fine 
Gleichenias—dichotoma, semi-vestita, speluncee, and Mendeli, well furnished 
and over a yard across and high. The three Ericas with which Mr. Boyea,. 
Burn Park, Uddingstone, gained first in that class, and also first for the most 
meritorious-grown plant in the Exhibition—E. Marnockiana, were particu¬ 
larly fine, and well deserved their honours. 
For twelve dishes of fruit Mr. Robertson, Rossdhu, Luss, and for six Mr. 
Boyd, Callender Park, Falkirk, were awarded first with fairly good collec¬ 
tions, especially Mr. Boyd’s, though hardly equal to the collection shown by 
the same grower a week previously at Falkirk. Grapes were more than, 
ordinarily good, Mr. Boyd’s two bunches of Alicante especially so. For two 
bunches of Black Hamburgh Mr. George Thomson, Spring Grove, Kilbarchan, 
gained first with two handsome bunches, fine in bunch and berry, but a little 
rusty, as were all the Hamburghs staged. Muscats were not quite equal, 
to those of former years, Mr. Mafikonichie keeping his ground here as usual. 
Apples were very numerously represented, few being full-grown, however. 
Three collections of vegetables were put up for an equal number of prizes^ 
By some strange judgment Mr. Thomas Hogg was placed first, Mr. N. Glass 
second, and Mr. D. MacBean, Craigends, third. Mr. Glass’s collection was 
undoubtedly the most, and Mr. Hogg’s the least meritorious, of the three.. 
Mr. Glass’s Leeks were the finest ever staged perhaps. Among amateur 
exhibitors Mr. Kilgour of Blair Drummond showed Gladioli well, and Mr- 
Stewart, of Campsie, Pansies ; indeed, cut flowers were shown in enormous, 
quantities and of super-excellent quality. 
For some reason Glasgow shows have been falling back of late years. 
Wednesday’s Show showerbtkat the old Society has life in it yet. We hope.- 
it may go on improving and take the position which such should in “ the- 
second city of the Empire/’ * \ 
Lad .i -_ 
CEPHALOTA^S FORTUNE!. 
Amongst the very distinct CTinqat^and Japanese Conifers which 
are now cultivated in our gardens the genus Cephalotaxus is very 
notable as the principal and best-known species composing it are dis¬ 
tinguished by noble habit of growth, handsome foliage, and often by a, 
profusion of Fig-like fruits. Three species are at present in cultivation 
viz., C. drupacea, C, Fortunei, the subject of the accompanying illus- 
